North Korea supports Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories

North Korea on Tuesday expressed its support for Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories occupied by its forces and condemned actions with the UN initiated by the United States and its allies against Moscow.

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Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow had annexed four regions of Ukraine that hosted referendums held by the Kremlin on land occupied by the Russian military.

The United States and other Western countries called the referendums a fraud at gunpoint and vowed never to recognize the merger.

But North Korean Foreign Minister Jo Chol-su defended the referendums as perfectly legal and “conducted in accordance with the United Nations Charter establishing the principles of people’s equality,” according to news agency North Korea’s official KCNA.

North Korea is an ally of Russia.

“A large majority of voters supported unification with Russia,” Joe said in a statement, according to KCNA.

On Friday, Russia vetoed a US proposal to the UN Security Council aimed at condemning its annexations.

The veto lacked Russian support, with China and India abstaining. Mr Joe said the United States was interfering in the internal affairs of independent countries and “misusing” the United Nations Security Council.

“The days when America uses the Security Council as a shield and a tool of aggression to maintain its hegemony will never return,” the North Korean minister said.